Governing device for steam-pumps.



PATENTED JUNE 9, 1903.

R. B. MOGWAN. GOVERNING DEVICE FOR STEAM PUMPS lAIPLIUA'IIN FILED JULY2, 1902.

No MODEL;

Patented tTune 9, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT B. MCGOWAN,

OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

GOVERNING DEVICE FOR STEAM-PUMPS.

Y SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,682, dated J' une9, 1903.

Application led July 2,1902. Serial No. 114.141. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern: p

Be it known that I, ROBERT B. McGoWAN,

Aa citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the countyof Hamilton and State' of Ohio, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Governing Devices for Steamv draulic elevators,fire-engines, accumulator.

systems, air systems, dac. To this end it consists in a balancedthrottle-valve controlling the motor-fluid inlet provided with anadjustable spring acting normally to seat and close the valve and with apiston upon the valve-stem acted upon by pressure from thepump-reservoir in opposition to the spring and also in construction andarrangement of the parts including further features contributing to theefficiency of the device.

Mechanism embodying my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in Which- Figure l is an axial sectional elevation of myimproved governing device complete; Fig. 2, a similar section of thevalve-casing, showing a modified form of valve; and Fig. 3 a plan viewof the valve-governing cylinder and its base, containing the passagesfor the water-or air from the reservoir.`

Referring now to the drawings, A designates the valvechamber,into whichthe steaminlet a extends, the inner closed extension A' of said inlet ctbeing pierced through its upper and lower walls ct a2 for the play of aform of piston-valve B, to be more particularly described. An apertureis provided'at the extremity of the extension A', governed by anordinary stop-valve C, whose stem c extends outward through the sidewall of the chamber A through the usual stuffing-box c2, through whichthe stem o is threaded.

The stem b of the piston-valve B extends upward through an-ordinaryAstuffing-box in a cap o3, constituting the top wall of chamber A, andthrough a similar stuffing-box of a chambered bottom d of a cylinder D,supported upon a yoke-piece a4, rising from the cap a3. Within thecylinder D and to the stem b is secured a pistou d2, fitted with acup-leather orother suitable packing p. The stem b extends still upwardthrough a flanged throat-piece E, threaded through a cap d3,constituting the top or end wall of the cylinder D.

Within the cylinder D, interposed between the piston d2 and acorresponding seat-ange e', (centered upon the lower end of thethroatpiece E,) is a coiled spring S in compression, acting normally todepress the piston d2 and the main valveB, to which it is ultimatelyconnected through the stem b. To increase the compression of the springS, the throatpiece E is rotated in its threaded seat in the cap d3 bymeans of a fixed hand-wheel b2 and held iixedly in any position ofadjustment.

by a jam-nut b3, seated on its threaded portion and contacting againstthe cap d3. To ease the friction of interrotation, ball-bearingsxareintroduced between the lower shoulder of the'throat-piece E and theseat-fiange e.

The main valve B is a perforated cylindrical shell with closed ends anda central diaphragm. As shown in its preferred construction, thecylindrical valve is divided horizontally through the central diaphragminto two parts or chambers B B2, spaced apart by a connecting-stem b.The two closed cylinders are duplicates,tted to play with a practicallysteam-tight fit in like relations, respectively, in the upper and lowerwalls ct a2 of the extension A. Each chamber is provided with twohorizontal series of perforations y y2 through the outer shell in suchrelation that in the mid-position of the valve shown in the drawings,Fig. 1, the openings stand equally above and below the walls of theextension A'. In this position the steam from inlet a passes freelythrough one set of the apertures into each chamber of the valve B andout through the other set of apertures, as indicated by the arrows, andthus freely supplies the motor-cylinder ofthe pump, (not 'shown;) butany elevation or depression of the valve B from this position willpartially or wholly close the apertures by shifting their relation withthe walls ct a2, thus diminishing the steam-pressure. I prefer to makethe steam- IOO apertures of the valve-shell of angular form, asindicated, so as to equalize the wear of parts, as is Well understood.The vertical reciprocation of the valve is eilected by pressure upwardlyagainst the lower side of the piston p, and the counteracting downwardpressure of spring s upon the upper side controlled as follows:

The chambered base d of the cylinder D is cast with an admission-passagee', having a pipe connection p withthe receiving-reservoir of the pump.(Not shown.) A second passage e2, separated from the first by adiaphragm e3, communicates with the bottom of the cylinder D. Theseparating-diaphragm e3 is provided with two apertures communicatingbetweenv the passages e e2, one controlled by a check or lift valve e4,resting upon its seat normally by gravity, and the other aperture iscontrolled by an adjustable stopper or valve e5, whose stem is threadedthrough a throat-piece e and further provided with a stuffing-box. Thefunction of the lift-valve e4 is to retain the pressure beneath thepiston p in case the resistance is reduced until relieved bythe escapethrough the opening controlled by the plug-valve e5, which can beadjusted so as to regulate, as desired, the adjustment of theequilibrium.

The operative functions of the device are as follows: In theaccompanying drawings the parts are shown in mid-position of the mainvalve B, are open to the fullest extent, the valve B being held in suchposition by the upward pressure ot' motor fluid entering the passage e',lifting the check-valve e4, entering the cylinder D through passage e2,and then actuating the piston p against the counteracting force of thespring s. The spring sis set to the exact tension required to maintainthe equilibrium ofv pressure necessary to retain the proper head orresistance at delivery end of the pump by means of the threadedthroat-piece E,which, as stated, is secured in ultimate position bythejam-nut b3. Asthe available steam-power is always somewhat in excess ofthat required to maintain the desired head, the full dow of steam willactuate the pump so as to raise the resistance head or pressure abovethe normal limit, and in such case the excess of resistance-pressureagainst the piston p will raise the valve B against the spring force,and thus lessen the supply to the motor end of the pump. As theresistance head or pressure diminishes the check-valve c4 seats itself,and the equilibrium of pressures as between the passages e and e2 issoon attained by the retarded iiow through the aperture controlled bythe valve e5, which acts as an adjustable stopper, and thus the valve Bvibrates between the position of full opening (shown'in Fig. l) and thatof a possible elevation, completely shutting oft' the steam. Thedownward limit of the valve B may be regulated by a nut f, threaded uponthe extreme upward projection of the valve-stem b', constituting a stopby contact downward against the top of the throat-piece E; but while theservice is in active operation the nutf will be raised above thethroat-piece E and may be utilized as a carrier to move a pointer f overa scale-piece f2, indicating the relative positions of the valve B. Whensteam is shut o for a cessation of the pumping operation, the valve Bwill drop down as soon as the resistance head or pressure is lessened,if permitted by the stop f, until the iange at the upper end of theval've B contacts with the wall a, in which position the valve closesthe steam-passage. To resume operations, the valve C is opened, thusadmitting steam to the pump independently of the valve B until thenormalresisting-head is reached, when the valve C is closed and the valve Bagain controls the action. The downward play of the valve B may belimited, if desired, to the mid-position shown by means of the nut fdescribed; but ordinarily this is not required. It will be convenientgenerally to use the nutfin the position shown, and attached pointer f',operating upon an indicatorfz, to show the position of the main valve B.

The modification shown in Fig. 2 consists in constructing the valve Bwith open ends and with two sets of openings, one at either side of acentral diaphragm. The upper and lower walls a d2 of the extension A areconnected by a shell @5,bored to the diameter of the valve and providedwith a circumferential opening registering in width with those of thevalve B. The action of the valve is substantially the same as that firstdescribed. Steam entering the valve through the series of apertures opento the inlet ct passes upward and downward out through the valve aboveand below the walls ct and a2 through the exit a5 to the pump-cylinder.The frame and construction of the valves B and B is such that theyremain balanced at all points of their travel.

y I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States- 1. A pump-governing device, embodying a balancedthrottle-valve divided into separate chambers each provided with adouble series ot' perforations-through the outer shell, said valvehaving its operating-stem extended as a piston-rod into apressure-cylinder, and a piston upon the rod actuated in said cylinderin one direction b y the resistance head or pressure, and in the otherby an adjustable spring, substantially as set forth.

2. In a pump-governing device of the character indicated, thecombination of the cylin-A der, D, and its chambered inlet-passage, withthe lift-valve, e4, and adjustable plug-valve, es, substantially as setforth.

3. In a pump-governing device of the character indicated, thecombination of the cylinder, D, and its chambered inlet-passage, withthe lift-valve, e4, and adjustable plug-valve,

IOO

IIO

e5, the piston, its governing-spring, and the adjustable throat-piece,E, substantially as set forth.

4. In a pump-governing device of the character indicated, thevalve-chamber,A, having the inlet extension, A', in combination with theperforated hollow Valve divided horizontally into separate chambers eachprovided with a double series of perforations through the outer shell,said valve playing through the upper and lower walls of said extension,substantially as set forth.

5. In a pump-governing device of the characterindicated, thevalve-chamber, A, having the inlet extension, A', in combinationwith thehollow valve divided into separate chambers each provided with a doubleseries of perforations through the outer shell, said valve playingthrough the upper and lower walls of said extension, the stem extendedthrough the governing-cylinder, and the nut, f, threaded upon theoutward extension ot' the stein and contacting against the top of anextension of the governing-cylinder, substantially as set forth.

6. In a pump-governing device of the character indicated, thevalve-chamber, A, having the inlet, A', in combination with theperforated hollow valve playing through the upper and lower Walls ofsaid extension, and the auxiliary valve C, opening the inlet-passagedirectly to the exit-passage independently of the throttle-valve,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witlleSSGS.

ROBERT B. MCGOWAN.

Witnesses:

Jos. R. GARTNER, CHAS. HERBERT JONES.

